Environmental Health Unit: Water Pollution Lesson

1. Environmental Health Unit:Water Pollution Lesson Objectives: TSWBAT identify types, causes, dangers, preventing, and treating water pollution. TSWBAT create solutions and actions to reduce water pollution in our building and at home.

2. Water Pollution Water covers over 70% of the Earth's surface and is a very important resource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. This consequently harms human health and the natural environment.

3. Types of Pollution • Can come from a number of different sources: • Single source = point-source pollution (oil spill) • Many sources = nonpoint-source pollution (fertilizers, toxic chemicals, bacteria) • Most affect the immediate area surrounding the source. • May affect the environment hundreds of miles away from the source = transboundary pollution.

4. Causes of Pollution • Sewage & wastewater: • Domestic households, industrial & agricultural practices produce wastewater that can cause pollution of many lakes & rivers. • Marine dumping: • Cardboard • Newspaper • Photodegradable packaging • Foam • Styrofoam • Aluminum • Plastic packaging

5. Causes of Pollution • Atmospheric deposition: • Acid rain • Atmospheric deposition occurs when pollutants are transferred from the air to the earth's surface. • Pollutants are transferred from the air to the water through: • wet deposition (rain or snow), • dry deposition (falling particles), and • gas absorption.

6. Causes of Pollution • Radioactive waste: • Nuclear waste is produced from industrial, medical & scientific processes that use radioactive material. • Nuclear waste can have detrimental effects on marine habitats. • Underground storage leaks: • Over time the steel corrodes and causes leakages, affecting surrounding soil and groundwater.

7. Causes of Pollution • Global warming: • Increase in water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and disrupt many marine habitats. • Eutrophication: • Environment becomes enriched with nutrients. • Marine habitats (such as lakes) can cause algal blooms. • Fertilizers run-off into nearby water causing an increase in nutrient levels. • Industrial waste – • Asbestos, Lead, Mercury, Nitrates, Phosphates, Sulphur, Oils, Petrochemicals • Oil pollution: • Oceans are polluted on a daily basis from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs & dumping.

8. Great Garbage Patch What do you think??? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTurihxSTnI&feature=grec_index

9. Dangers of Pollution • Virtually all types of water pollution are harmful to the health of humans and animals. • Water pollution may not damage our health immediately but can be harmful after long term exposure.

10. Brainstorm What are ways you can conserve water? What are ways you can prevent water pollution?

11. Preventing Pollution • Conserve water • Turn off the tap when running water is not necessary (helps prevent water shortages & reduces amount of water needing treatment) • Use tap water rather than bottled water (The US goes through 50 billion water bottles a year) • Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. • Don't throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain. • Use environmentally friendly household products: The production, use and disposal of environmentally unfriendly products create pollution, groundwater contamination and other threats to the ecosystem.

12. Preventing Pollution • Don’t overuse pesticides and fertilizers • This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources. • Plants in your garden: prevent fertilizer, pesticides & contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources. • Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. • Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes. Make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby bin.

13. Preventing Pollution • Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators. Because you’re saving hot water, you’ll also reduce your energy bill. • If you’re in the market for a toilet, buy a low-volume, ultra low-volume, or dual-flush model. • Fix leaky faucets. All those wasted drops add up—sometimes to 10-25 gallons a day. • Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full. When it’s time to replace them, buy a water- and energy-efficient model. Remember, saving water saves energy, and saving energy saves water.

14. Preventing Pollution • Eat a bit less meat, especially beef. A typical hamburger can take 630 gallons to produce. "The Hidden Water We Use” • Buy less stuff.  Everything takes water to make. So if we buy less, we shrink our water footprint. • Recycle plastics, glass, metals, and paper. Buy re-usable products rather than throw-aways, as it takes water to make most everything. • Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and washing the dishes. Shave a minute or two off your shower time. Millions of people doing even the little things makes a difference. • Know the source of your drinking water—the river, lake, or aquifer that supplies your home.  Once you know it, you’ll care about it. You just won’t want to waste water.